Arcus-Air
German aviation brand associated with air-taxi, scheduled, charter, cargo, corporate-flight, and aviation-logistics operations.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Arcus-Air is a German aviation brand whose origins reach back to Arcus Air Taxi, established in 1973 for private flying and air-taxi services. It subsequently developed from a small general-aviation operator into a group of related aviation businesses involved in scheduled passenger services, charter flying, cargo activity, corporate aviation, and aviation logistics. The brand’s history reflects the changing structure of regional aviation in Germany, particularly after reunification and the liberalization of European air transport. The business operated initially under the Arcus Air Taxi name. In 1980 it became Arcus-Air Logistics GmbH while continuing its earlier private-flight and air-taxi activities. Its first scheduled passenger service began in 1987 on the Mannheim–Oberpfaffenhofen route. During the early 1990s, the network expanded to Leipzig and Dresden, connecting western and eastern German cities during the period following German reunification. In 1996, the operating name changed again to Arcus-Air Luftfahrtunternehmen. A significant structural change occurred on 1 April 1997, when flight operations were transferred to Cosmos Air Luft GmbH, a subsidiary established for the scheduled-flight business. Cosmos Air operated services from Mannheim to Berlin and London, using Berlin Tempelhof and London City Airport, respectively. The operation used Dornier 228 and Dornier 328 aircraft and also undertook charter work. Its main operating base was Neustheim Airport in Troisdorf, while the wider activity remained associated with Arcus-Air Logistics. In June 1999, Cosmos Air was sold to Cirrus Airlines, ending Arcus-Air’s scheduled passenger operations. After the scheduled-airline phase, the Arcus-Air name remained associated with specialized aviation activities rather than a large network carrier. Arcus Executive Aviation was based in Zweibrücken and focused on executive and charter flying, while Air Logistics operated from Troisdorf and handled charter cargo and corporate flights from Mannheim City Airport. These activities positioned Arcus-Air within the German business-aviation and air-freight market, where flexibility, aircraft availability, and tailored transport solutions are more important than a broad scheduled network. On 18 June 2020, Air Logistics and Arcus Air OBC were acquired by Chapman Freeborn, which is part of Avia Solutions Group. This transaction linked parts of the Arcus-Air operating heritage to a larger international aviation-services organization specializing in chartering, cargo, and related flight solutions. Publicly available reference material does not establish a single consolidated current airline operation under the Arcus-Air name, nor does it provide a complete current fleet specification in the supplied material. The brand is therefore best understood as a continuing aviation-services identity with a historical scheduled-passenger operation and later emphasis on charter, corporate, cargo, and logistics services.
History
Arcus-Air began in 1973 as Arcus Air Taxi, a German operator providing private flights and air-taxi services. The company’s early activities were rooted in general aviation rather than in the operation of a large scheduled airline. In 1980, it adopted the name Arcus-Air Logistics GmbH and continued its private and air-taxi work under that identity. The company entered scheduled passenger aviation in 1987, when it inaugurated service between Mannheim and Oberpfaffenhofen. During the early 1990s, after German reunification, Arcus-Air added routes to Leipzig and Dresden. These services reflected the emergence of new commercial links between western and eastern German cities. In 1996, the operating company was renamed Arcus-Air Luftfahrtunternehmen. On 1 April 1997, the flight operations were transferred to Cosmos Air Luft GmbH, a subsidiary created for the scheduled operation. Cosmos Air flew from Mannheim to Berlin and London, serving Tempelhof Airport in Berlin and London City Airport in the United Kingdom. Its fleet included two Dornier 228 aircraft and one Dornier 328, and the company also performed charter flights. Neustheim Airport near Troisdorf served as its principal operating base, while the business remained connected with Arcus-Air Logistics. Cosmos Air was sold to Cirrus Airlines in June 1999, bringing the scheduled-flight operation to an end. The Arcus-Air business identity subsequently remained associated with specialist aviation services. Arcus Executive Aviation operated from Zweibrücken and was linked to executive and charter aviation. Air Logistics, based in Troisdorf, carried out charter cargo and corporate flights from Mannheim City Airport. These activities represented a shift from scheduled regional passenger transport toward flexible, customer-specific aviation services. On 18 June 2020, Chapman Freeborn acquired Air Logistics and Arcus Air OBC. Chapman Freeborn is a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, an international aviation-services group. The acquisition placed those Arcus-related activities within a broader organization focused on aircraft chartering, cargo, and other aviation logistics. The supplied reference material does not provide a complete description of the present corporate structure, route network, or fleet under the Arcus-Air name. Accordingly, Arcus-Air’s documented history should be separated into its former scheduled-airline phase and its later specialist charter, corporate, cargo, and logistics activities.
- 2020
Related aviation activities acquired by Chapman Freeborn
[1]Chapman Freeborn acquired Air Logistics and Arcus Air OBC on 18 June, bringing these activities into the Avia Solutions Group network.
- 1999
Scheduled-flight phase ended
[1]Cosmos Air was sold to Cirrus Airlines in June, ending the scheduled passenger operation associated with Arcus-Air.
- 1997
Scheduled operations transferred to Cosmos Air
[1]On 1 April, flight operations moved to Cosmos Air Luft GmbH, which operated regional scheduled and charter services.
- 1996
Renamed Arcus-Air Luftfahrtunternehmen
[1]The operating company adopted the Arcus-Air Luftfahrtunternehmen name.
- 1990
Routes added to Leipzig and Dresden
[1]During the early 1990s, the scheduled network expanded to Leipzig and Dresden after German reunification.
- 1987
Scheduled passenger service launched
[1]Arcus-Air began scheduled flights between Mannheim and Oberpfaffenhofen.
- 1980
Renamed Arcus-Air Logistics GmbH
[1]The company changed its name to Arcus-Air Logistics GmbH while continuing its earlier private-flight and air-taxi activities.
- 1973
Arcus Air Taxi founded
[1]Arcus Air Taxi was established in Germany to provide private flights and air-taxi services.
Products and positioning
A specialist German aviation-services brand focused on flexible regional, charter, corporate, cargo, and logistics flying rather than a mass-market long-haul airline network.
Passenger aviation · 1987
Scheduled regional passenger flights
Arcus-Air historically operated scheduled regional services from Mannheim. Documented routes included Mannheim–Oberpfaffenhofen, later connections to Leipzig and Dresden, and, through Cosmos Air, services to Berlin and London. The scheduled operation used small regional aircraft and ended after Cosmos Air was sold to Cirrus Airlines in 1999.
General aviation · 1973
Air-taxi and private-flight services
The brand originated in private flying and air-taxi services. These operations formed the company’s initial business before it added scheduled passenger routes and later developed a broader portfolio of charter, corporate, and logistics activities.
Charter aviation
Cargo and corporate charters
Air Logistics operated charter cargo and corporate flights from Mannheim City Airport. This offering served customers requiring tailored aircraft movement rather than fixed public schedules, complementing Arcus-Air’s executive and business-aviation activities.
Business aviation
Executive and charter aviation
Arcus Executive Aviation, based in Zweibrücken, was associated with executive and charter flying. The service area reflects Arcus-Air’s post-scheduled-airline positioning as a specialist operator serving corporate and customized flight requirements.
Aviation logistics
On-board courier and aviation logistics
Arcus Air OBC was one of the Arcus-related activities acquired by Chapman Freeborn in 2020. The available reference material identifies the business as part of the brand’s logistics heritage but does not provide a detailed service catalogue.
Brand decisions
2020
Sale of Air Logistics and Arcus Air OBC to Chapman FreebornM&ABackground
Air Logistics and Arcus Air OBC represented specialist cargo, corporate-flight, and logistics activities connected with the Arcus-Air business history.
Action taken
Chapman Freeborn acquired both businesses on 18 June 2020.
Aftermath
The acquired activities became associated with Chapman Freeborn and its parent Avia Solutions Group, while the supplied sources do not clarify the continuing use of the Arcus-Air brand.
1999
Sale of Cosmos Air to Cirrus AirlinesM&ABackground
Cosmos Air operated the scheduled services that had been transferred from the Arcus-Air operation.
Action taken
Cosmos Air was sold to Cirrus Airlines in June 1999.
Aftermath
The sale ended the scheduled-flight phase associated with Arcus-Air and Cosmos Air.
1997
Transfer of flight operations to Cosmos AirStrategyBackground
Arcus-Air had operated scheduled passenger services since 1987 and had changed its operating name to Arcus-Air Luftfahrtunternehmen in 1996.
Action taken
On 1 April 1997, flight operations were transferred to the newly established Cosmos Air Luft GmbH subsidiary.
Aftermath
Cosmos Air continued scheduled and charter flying, including Mannheim–Berlin and Mannheim–London services, until its sale to Cirrus Airlines in 1999.
Recent events
Chapman Freeborn acquires Arcus Air Logistics[2]
Chapman Freeborn acquired German company Arcus Air Logistics; the agreement was signed on Thursday, June 18, 2020.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources2 sources
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